Fence-post



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N.l ENSMINGER.

FENCE Postr'l No. 390,215. Patented Oct. 2, 1888.

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y FENCE POST. l No. 390,215. Patented Oct. 2, 1888.v

@mums/.vw A 51A/www@ UNITED STATES PATENT Orrren.

NICOLAUS ENSMINGER, OF FREMONT, OHIO.

AFENCE '-POST.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 390,215, dated October 2, 1888,

Application tiled June 25, 1888.,

To @ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, N IcoLAUs ENsMINGna, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fremont, in the county of Sandusky and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fence-Posts; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description ot' the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in fence-posts, and more particularly to that class of fence-posts which are provided with bases made of metal or earthenware, adapted to withstand the effect of the injurious elements of the soil, which cause a wooden or similar post to decay.

The object of my invention is to provide a device of this character that will be durable7 simple in construction, inexpensive in point of manufacture, and capable of being usedin lmilding` a fence either of rails or boards, as desired.

In the accompanying drawings illustrative of my invention, Figure l represents in perspective a portion of a rail fence constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 represents a section on the line 2 2 of Fig. l. Fig. 3 represents in perspective aportion of a board fence constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 4 represents a section on the line 4 401" Fig. 3, and Fig. 5 represents in perspective the manner ofconnecting the wooden uprights to the base-pieces and of securing the lower portions of the boards thereto.

Similarletters refer to si milar parts throughont the several views.

Referring to the drawings, l represents a base-piece made of metal or earthenware, and provided with vertical recesses 2 2, extending throughout its length, thereby forming side ilanges, 3 and et.

5 represents the body portion of said base. The side flange, 3, is provided at each side with a supplemental flange, 6, thereby forming a recess having vertical sides. It is intended to employ this form of b'ase for fenceposts in constructing various kinds of fences, and in each kind the base is allowed to project somewhat above thesurface of the ground, and the post is secured upon said projecting Serial No. 278,092. (No model.)

portion so that its lower end will not come into contact with the soil.

In constructing a post and board fence in accordance with my invention, I employ a post or standard preferably rectangular in cross section and recessed at its lower end, as shown at 8, and forming the separated ends 9. When the post 7 is placed upon the base 1, the body portion 5 enters the recess 8, and the separated ends 9 of the post enter the recesses 2 2' of the base. l0 represents a brace which is placed between the supplemental flanges 6 6, and extends upwardly Aparallel with the post 7. To build a fence of this description, the base 1 is iirst placed in the ground and a Wire band, l1, is secured around the said base near its upper end in the manner shown. The post 7 is then placed upon the base and the boards 12 are nailed, bolted, or otherwise fastened at the required height between the post 7 and brace 10. The wire band l1 holds the lower ends of the post and brace tlrinly in place, adding to the stability of the structure.

Should it be desired to build the fence at a place different from where it is intended to be erected, it can be done by securing the boards to the post, allowing the post to project below the boards the length of the recess. It can then be taken to the place where it is intended to erect the fence, whereupon the base-pieces are placed in the ground at the proper distances apart, the posts mounted thereon, and the fence then completed, as above described.

In building a fence, if it is intended thatA it may be nailed to the post; but when it is intended to be temporary only they are bolted thereto, so that they can be readily removed.

In building a rail fence (illustrated in Figs. l and 2) the post 7 (illustrated in Figs. 3, 4, and 5) is dispensed with, and a second brace, 13, is placed upon the opposite side of the base to the brace 10. A. wire band, ILL, passes around the base and braces, thereby holding the same together. A smaller wire band, l5, passes over the top of the base l and is ,con nected at each end to the band 1.-'1, so as to prevent said band 14E from slipping. The braces are further held in position by additional wire bands, as shown, arranged between the ends of adjacent rails. The bottom rail, 18, rests should be permanent, the boards and brace upon the upper end of the base bet-Ween the braces, and the other rails rest upon this rail, as in an ordinary post-and-rail fence.

Having thus described my invention, what 5 I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,

I. Abase for fence-posts, having vert-icalrecesses forming flanges at the sides of said base, one of said anges being provided laterally with supplemental flanges, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with a post, of a base having flanges at the sides thereof, one of said yfianges being provided laterally with supplemental flanges, a brace secured between said supplemental flanges, and boards or rails secured between said post and brace, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with a base having vertical recesses forming side flanges, one of said side flanges being provided laterally with supplemental flanges, of' a post having a recess at its'lower end, forming separated end portions, the vertical recess of the base being adapted to receive the separated ends of the post, and the recess of said post being adapted to receive the body portion of the base, and a brace, substantially as described.

4. The combination, with a base having vertical recesses forming side flanges, one of said side flanges being provided laterally with supplemental fianges, of' a post having a recess at its lower end, forming separated end portions, the vertical recess of the base being adapted to receive the separated ends of the post, and the recess of said post being adapted to receive the body portion of the base, anda brace secured between said supplemental flanges, and boards secured between the post and brace, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof' I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

NICOLAUS ENSMINGER.

Witnesses:

FRANcEs OFARRELL, MAMIE QUIL'rER. 

